VBAC or another C-section can you share your experience pls?

[vio]

Hi, everyone, i have never posted in this topic so let me introduce myself, I am vio, I has a son who sadly passed away last year. My son's story www.justgiving.com/jim_jim

My pregnancy was healthy but I had a very difficult labour so ended up with an emergency C-section, but then soon after his birth, we were told that our son will be unlikely to see his 1st birthday, hes born with a fatal rare genetic condition.

I am now pregnant again, 24 wks now.. I've been thinking if I should go for VBAC, but then I feel it's a bit silly to put myself and my second child at risk, even if the risk is very small becos she's a little miracle to us.

I used to think I will definitely have more than 1 child but after what I've gone through and knowing that each pregnancy has 1 in 4 chance that the baby would inherit the fatal condition, it has made me very worried, when I fell pregnant again in March, it was hard, not knowing if the baby's affected. After CVS tested, my second baby is fine, she hasn't got it, we are very chuffed.

Sometimes i think I might not be able to go through that again, it's mentally very stressful, so I sometimes i think I might settle for 1 child, but sometimes I think i will want another one becos I have sisters and brother myself and I love having siblings, I don't want her to be lonely, if so, that means I will have 3 c-sections in total. I know it's completely safe to have 3 CS , just want to have others opinions on this issue? or if you have a few Csections before, can you share your experience? I think i am 80% sure that I will go for C section again.

First of all I am so sorry for your loss.

Welcome to MN and congratulations on your pregnancy.

It doesn't appear that having the section was the reason for your son's problem so can see no reason not to try for a VBAC.

My first child was born by emergency section at 38 weeks and I wasn't in labour. I then had 2 VBACs but due to a problem with my scar my youngest son and I had a very traumatic delivery and I was advised not to have more children.

If you do have a section this time you might be strongly advised to have a section the next time too and that needs to be borne in mind.

There are hundred's of threads on here with similar questions, and lots of people who have had VBAC's, so you will get lots of advice.

itati, thanks for your reply. Yes, i know his condition has nothing to do with the labour or having the section. It's genetic.

My consultant explained to me that there are 30% chance that VBAC will be failed and if so, the woman will need a Csection at the end and also, theres a very small risk of your scar tissue may burst ( if I understood correctly, she said 2%), now I know the risk is very small but I just thought why taking unnessesscary risk?....I have to say i wish I have never had a C-section before but it's a fact and i cant change that. I just need to look at what options i've got and make the right choice for myself.

Sorry to hear your sad story, Vio.

What were the reasons for your emergency cs? A VBAC is more likely to succeed if the cs happened for a reason to do with the baby (like breech, poor positioning) rather than the mother (like failure to progress).

As itati has said, there are masses of threads on here asking the same question and you will get lots of different opinions. My advice is to gather all the information you can, and then make your own decision based on that, but it needs to be your decision which you feel comfortable with.

Of women who've had a cs for their first birth, only about 25% attempt a VBAC. Out of that 25%, the rate who achieve a vaginal birth is slightly lower than it is out of all births, about 33% cs rate compared to 25%.

For what it's worth, I had an emergency cs first time, and chose to have an elective cs for the second. One of the reasons was that that an elective cs is much better in terms of clinical outcome and recovery time than an emergency one, and I wanted the certainty of knowing I wouldn't end up with that again. Also I'd had a horrific long labour first time round which I wanted to avoid.

My experience with the elective cs was fantastic - very relaxed and totally pain-free. Not everyone experiences it like that, but I'm just telling you how it was for me.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

I had a VBAC with DC2, 2 years 4 months after my section with no problems. The problem was with the child I had 22 months after that when the pain was worse than the contractions and it was looking like I was close to rupture. Now the scar hadn't been sewn up right in the first place so that might have had a bearing on it.

I was booked for a section at 5 days over with DC2 but my consultant said I didn't have to have it when I told him I didn't want too.

I sometimes wonder if mum's are pushed in to further sections as the medics are worried about being sued if anything goes wrong.

For me, Foetal distress was the resason why an emergency CS was needed.

If I have to be honest, I don't mind C-section, in a way, it feels safer. I agreed with you TF, I am just a bit worried that even if I try to have VBAC, what if I end up need a C-S again? it's certainly better to have an elective one, so you are more prepared both physically and mentally and also, less tramatic for both the mother and the child.

DS1 was born Apr 2007, passed away Sep 2007. I am due in Nov 2008. The fact that it's not been very long since the last CS also made me feel an elective CS seems like a better option.

But then again, like itati said, once you have a 2nd CS, you have to have CS again, so if i am going to have another child, 3 CS in total. So, anyone has had 3 CS then?

What an incredibly moving letter to your son. I'm so sorry for what you went through.
Re vbac vs cs:
I decided after much to-ing and fro-ing to go for a vbac, but I booked a cs for 9 days after my edd as I'd read that being overdue can mean you're less likely to have a successful vbac. Anyway, I went overdue and ended up with a planned cs after all that angst etc.
I'm having cs for my third on monday and part of me feels relieved that I'm not going through that difficult decision again and I can plan it all neatly, but at the same time sad that if I'd had a successful vbac I might be looking at another one now.
So generally, I'd say go for it. HOWEVER it is a much more stressful, uncertain way to go and given what you've gone through, if I were you I think I'd want to cut out ant unnecessary uncertainty and stress. I think you know that and that's why you're leaning towards a cs. I think the most important thing is to make a decision and feel happy with it. I regret the amount of time I vascillated and faffed around.
So pleased the cvs brought good news,
Pol

Thanks for sharing your experience and opinions ladies, find them very useful.

and good luck with your 3rd on Monday Polly!

hi all. one extra thing to think about with VBAC versus c-section. I went for a VBAC but ended up with another emergency c-section. The operation took longer than expected because the surgeon had to cut through adhesions from the previous section before they could reach the baby. I'd say this added 10 mins or so to surgery time, which would have been a problem if the baby had been in serious distress. Just mentioning it because it's not a risk factor I was aware of before. Anna

VBAC or repeat CS - a good link which helps you explore your options.

Best of luck in making an informed choice about what is right for you.

hi klaw,thanks very much for posting that link on vbac or repeat c-section.

i had my son by c-section and now i am preg with #2 and am wondering what to do. my first reaction is to go for another c-section. i did have lots of adhesions after my c-section. i have a lot to think about!

frankly i am scared of going into labour as i had a planned c-section with my son. he was breeched.

anyone know if once breeched always breeched?

Had my DD by emergency section- won't bore you with the details but she was posterior and got stuck.

When I got pregnant with DC2, I was adamant that I wanted a planned section for boringly practical reasons eg childcare as we have no-one around us etc, etc. I was at a different Hospital from 1st time and they catagorically would NOT consider giving me an elective section.

After several visits to the Consultant, they finally agreed to booking me in for a section the week after my due date. As the time came I was less and less committed to the whole section idea. I ended up going into labour on my due date and had DS with no pain relief and after 3hrs! He was all my own work and the whole experience was SOoooo much better than with DD. My recovery (despite stitches) was super quick and that was a great thing for DD and DH!! I had a huge sense of achievement having always carried a lot of guilt about my 1st delivery (If only I'd tried harder etc etc).

Overall the VBAC was a great option for both me and my wee family. Hope this helps.

vio, sorry about your son - may he rest in peace. I read your letter before and it moved me to tears.

Looking at the link you posted, klaw, it seems rather pro-VBAC. The risks of a cs and repeat cs are rightfully highlighted. But the risks of a vaginal birth going wrong and the risk of ending up with another emergency cs are glossed over.

Thank everyone for your kind advice and honest opinion. I think we need to choose what;s the best for us, for me, I think an elective CS is the best option and I have already made up my mind now...keeping my fingers crossed, I just want her to be healthy.

Blueshoes would Caesarean.org.uk be better?

It is my opinion that planning a VBAC is best (depending, of course, on circumstances and your psychological state) but you MUST have a detailed set of preferences noted in the event that circumstances take you away from VBAC. That way you have a say in the 'emergency' and can stipulate, for instance, that you do not want instrumental delivery but to go straight to CS if progress is not good. Dyswim? Many first time emCS are traumatic because the mums have not considered their options beforehand and cannot make informed decisions about their care. It's not something we expected to happen and didn't plan for, naievely perhaps.... At least when planning your VBAC you know what you would like to avoid in an emergency situation.

With hindsight, when/if I have another child I think I would prefer to skip induction and go straight to CS if baby needed to be born, so although I am unashamedly a VBACer it would not be at all costs. It depends on the circumstances and will be MY decision. I would support a woman planning a CS to the hilt if it was her decision and it would preserve her mental health, even if I disagree with, or don't understand, her decision

Birth plan template This birth plan for VBAC also has a huge section for CS that you can pick and choose from so that you can state your preferences in the event of X, Y or Z.

And VIO I see you have considered your options now and made your decision. THAT is what is important. Now plan the best birth for you

Vio, I had a wee look at your letter to your son and was really touched. He was such a cutie and I'm sure it was a blessing to have him in your life for even little while. Hope you find joy in your life with the safe arrival of your new little one x

Vio, I am glad you have come to a decision. If you feel calm and confident about it, it is the right one for you.

I was almost certain I wanted an elective after my emcs, but went through the whole process of exploring the chances of a successful VBAC with various midwives anyway. This included included an in-depth interview with a senior midwife where I fired questions at her on stats of success and failure of both options, and full risks, not asking to be swayed either way.

In the end, I decided on an elective for ds and had one at 39+3 weeks. It was everything I expected and had a quick and uneventful recovery. Once I made the decision, I did not fret and put the whole birth thing out of my mind until close to the date, when I worked out the practicalities of getting support over the recovery period. I believe the elective was the right decision for me and ds.

Klaw, I agree I would prefer a cs rather than an instrumental delivery and would have put it in my birth plan should I have gone VBAC. But I thought about it, if a doctor were to say my baby has to get out NOW and the fastest way to do it was an instrumental, there is no way in hell I would say no. The best laid birth plans can and frequently go awry in the delivery room.

Also, the stress of a vaginal birth (much less VBAC) in a frequently understaffed NHS maternity unit plus the added pressure of more detailed monitoring means the risk of an emergency cs is higher for VBAC.

The grim realities of giving birth on the NHS is one factor not highlighted on any of the sites you linked to. But it was a key factor for me in going elective.

Thanks ladies, yes, James was such a cutie and he's so brave. Although I can no longer see him, I have him in my heart forever. again, thanks for the kind words and advice.

hello.
Can some please help me answer my question.
I had a emergency s-section in 2009, as my son was breech. now I would like to have another baby but am not sure if I can ask to have another s-section. can this be possible or not. I hear from some mums that u can not have 2 section.
Please help answer my question